Oajan Clones

"### Is it Worth It? If Legion were a character in a movie, it would be the stunt double – looks similar from a distance, but falls short under close scrutiny. ### Notes & Nuances Legion starts strong, mimicking Oajan's boozy cinnamon-honey accord. But the similarity plateaus quickly. The initial blast features a dominant, almost candied cinnamon, akin to those hard cinnamon candies you find around the holidays. The honey note leans synthetic, bordering on a saccharine maple syrup. The heart attempts amber warmth, but the labdanum feels muted, replaced by a generic, ambery sweetness. The base is where the separation is most stark. Where Oajan is a warm, resinous hug, Legion dries down to a somewhat plasticky tonka bean and a whisper of vanilla. The patchouli is barely detectable, missing the original's grounding earthiness. It captures the *idea* of Oajan, but executes with a less refined hand. ### Longevity & Projection Legion offers decent longevity, clocking in around 6-7 hours on my skin. Projection is moderate for the first hour, extending to about an arm's length, before settling closer to the skin. I tested it in an office environment and received neutral feedback – nobody complained, but no compliments either. It performs adequately in cooler weather, but I suspect the sweetness might become cloying in warmer conditions."

"### Scent Breakdown Ilham Al Oud opens with a blast of cinnamon that leans towards potpourri, mixed with a honey accord reminiscent of those honey sticks you get at the county fair. There's a fleeting apricot note from the osmanthus, quickly subdued by the hefty dose of benzoin. As it dries, the labdanum takes over, giving it a resinous, slightly medicinal character, alongside a muted ambergris impression which feels more like a generic amber accord. The base introduces tonka, vanilla, and a whisper of patchouli. It diverges from its inspiration in the drydown, losing that boozy depth and developing a synthetic vanilla aroma, like cheap vanilla extract. ### The Verdict If Ilham Al Oud were a movie character, it would be the well-meaning but slightly clumsy sidekick who tries to emulate the cool protagonist but ultimately falls short due to a lack of finesse. ### Projection Power Longevity is respectable, clocking in at around 6-7 hours. Projection starts strong at about an arm's length, quickly settling to a skin scent after about 2 hours. I tested it in a climate-controlled office environment, and while not offensive, it did lack the sophistication needed for a professional setting."

"### The Scent Profile Brooklyn Fragrance Lover launches with a substantial wave of cinnamon, markedly different from the Oajan inspiration. This cinnamon leans heavily toward the powdered variety, recalling holiday baking spices instead of the nuanced spice of the original. The honey accord, while present, lacks the depth and richness, smelling more like corn syrup than acacia honey. A fleeting osmanthus note provides a whisper of apricot, but it’s quickly overshadowed. The heart introduces a gummy benzoin sweetness that borders on cloying. The labdanum is present, but subdued, lacking the animalic complexity; the ambergris feels more like an ambroxan stand-in. The drydown consists primarily of tonka bean and vanilla, creating a dense, gourmand base. The patchouli is nearly imperceptible, failing to ground the sweetness. It diverges from the source material most distinctly in its lack of depth and a slightly synthetic acetone edge in the late stages. ### Conclusion This scent profile finds its niche in casual settings during cooler months. Ideal for cozy nights in, or perhaps a relaxed coffee date. It lacks the sophistication for formal occasions, but its sweet, comforting character makes it suitable for situations where a crowd-pleasing, gourmand fragrance is desired. ### How Long Does it Last? Longevity is impressive, clocking in at approximately 8-10 hours. Projection is initially strong, extending beyond an arm's length for the first two hours, before settling closer to the skin. I tested this during cool evening walks, and in a climate-controlled office environment."

"### Olfactory Experience Legion 1743 opens with a potent blast of cinnamon that borders on Big Red gum. The honey note is present, but it's more like artificial honey flavoring than the real deal, lacking depth and nuance. I don’t detect any osmanthus. The heart introduces a syrupy benzoin, lending a medicinal quality reminiscent of cherry cough syrup. The labdanum is dialed way down, and instead of a genuine ambergris salty musk, there's a general sweetness verging on cloying. The drydown is a muddled mix of tonka bean and vanilla, with a noticeable plasticky undertone and only a suggestion of patchouli, losing much of the original's richness. It doesn’t capture the full complexity; the experience is flatter and less sophisticated. ### Is it Worth It? Wearing Legion 1743 gets you in the ballpark of the Oajan experience, delivering a general impression of spiced honey. But you sacrifice the refined character, the intriguing depth, and the well-blended nature of the original. The result is a somewhat synthetic, less satisfying wear. If you absolutely crave the idea of spiced honey but only want to spend minimally to explore the genre, this could work. But don’t expect a truly similar experience. ### Performance Reality Check Legion 1743 lasts approximately 5-6 hours on my skin, projecting strongly for the first hour at about an arm's length, then quickly fading to a skin scent. I wore it to a casual outdoor gathering, and while noticeable initially, it became almost undetectable after a few hours of mingling."

"### First Impressions & Dry Down CinnaHoney opens with a potent cinnamon accord, leaning heavily into a powdered spice effect, rather than fresh cinnamon bark. The honey is present but subdued, lending a syrupy texture rather than a distinct sweetness. The osmanthus provides a fleeting apricot nuance but dissipates quickly. The heart introduces benzoin, imparting a balsamic resinous quality; however, the labdanum remains surprisingly muted. There is an attempt at ambergris, but the result comes across as a simplified ambroxan accord, lending a scratchy, mineralic feel. The base is where the largest divergence occurs. The tonka bean is more coumarin-forward, smelling like bitter almond extract. The vanilla is a generic vanillin, lacking the depth of a true vanilla bean. The patchouli is clean and stripped of its earthy character. In comparison to the inspiration, this lacks the boozy date facets and richer amber notes. ### Is it Worth It? CinnaHoney is best suited for cooler autumn days. Its sweeter facets make it more appropriate for casual settings, avoiding formal or professional environments. While not repulsive, its simplified structure and synthetic elements make it difficult to recommend without reservation. ### How Long Does it Last? Longevity is approximately 6 hours on skin, projecting at about one arm's length for the initial 2 hours, then settling closer to the skin. Tested in indoor office settings."

"### To Buy or Not to Buy? This fragrance is best suited for cooler autumn evenings when you desire something sweet but not overly complex. Picture a casual coffee date or a dimly lit bookstore—settings where a bold but not necessarily sophisticated aroma fits. Avoid wearing this in warmer weather or confined spaces, where the initial sugary blast could become overwhelming. ### Scent Breakdown Zara’s “Tobacco Collection Unexpected Fresh Spicy” kicks off with an oddly medicinal cherry cough syrup note rather than the spiced honey promised. The osmanthus is detectable but plays second fiddle to the saccharine blast. As it dries, a dusty benzoin emerges, softening the initial assault, but a synthetic ambergris accord adds a slightly plastic, almost off-putting edge. The base attempts a graceful landing with tonka and vanilla, yet the lingering medicinal sweetness persists, creating a somewhat cloying and discordant finish that lacks the nuanced depth of its inspiration. It mimics the *idea* of Oajan, but falls noticeably short on execution, particularly in the drydown where it devolves into a simpler, flatter aroma. ### Performance Reality Check Longevity sits around 5-6 hours on skin. Projection is initially strong, extending about an arm's length for the first hour, then quickly receding to a skin scent. I tested this during a brisk autumn walk and in a heated office environment. The cooler air did it some favors, tamping down the medicinal sweetness slightly."